Smart cities: theoretical formulations and empirical approaches in the national and international scenario

Abstract This article offers an alternative methodological framework for the smart city field, starting from a chronological literature review and empirical analysis of the smart city Konza Technopolis (Kenya), the smartification of São Paulo (State of São Paulo, Brazil), and the Smart City Laguna (State of Ceará, Brazil). Smart city experiences have been developed since the late 1990s, with greater expressiveness in the urban space from the 2010s onwards, concomitantly with an increase in the number of studies about the theme. Currently, the theme demonstrates a high level of discussion and maturity. Given its breadth, an analytical focus is necessary to address the particularities related to the three categories presented here: (1) smart cities developed from scratch; (2) initiatives aimed at consolidated cities; and (3) real estate developments.